UPDATE
UTICA, N.Y. — After two full days of jury deliberations and 10 days of trial, David Kingsley, Nicholas Kieffer, and Mathew Galliher, the former corrections officers accused of murdering inmate Robert Brooks, have learned their fate.
Kingsley was found guilty of murder and manslaughter. He will be sentenced on Dec. 16 where he faces 25 years to life in prison.
However, Mathew Galliher and Nicholas Kieffer, were acquitted of all their charges. Galiher and Kieffer also faced gang assault charges. Kieffer faced a falsifying records charge in addition.
Kingsley was stonefaced as the jury convicted him as his wife sat in the front row and cried. Kieffer’s family, who was in the courtroom for the last two weeks gasped and cried as as his verdict was read.
Kingsley left the courtroom shackled and in handcuffs as his bail was revoked.
The jury delivered Monday’s verdict quickly. They spent all of Oct. 16 and 17 deliberating. The jury raised several questions to Judge Robert Bauer. They requested testimony from former Sergeant Glenn Tromley and Officer Kessler, to review bodycam footage and use-of-force documents and the elements of murder and manslaughter.
Brooks’ son, Robert Brooks Jr., was not in the courtroom on Monday. However, he is expected to call on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Omnibus Prison Refom Bill into law in Albany on Oct. 21. The End Prison Violence campaign, an advocacy group dedicated to improving the livlihoods of incarcerated individuals, is expected to join him.
Bodycam video revealed officers punching, kicking and grabbing Brooks by the neck on Dec. 9, 2024. The beating occurred the same day Brooks, of Rochester, was transferred from the Mohawk Correctional Facility to the Marcy facility. He died the next day at 43 years old.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for assault after he was convicted of stabbing his girlfriend in Greece, near Rochester. His release was scheduled for 2026.
10 former corrections officers were charged in total for the death of Robert Brooks. Six of them took plea deals in the matter.
Michael Fisher, who was charged with manslaughter, is scheduled to go on trial on Jan. 12, 2026. His defense attorney was successful in having him tried seperatley from Kingsley, Galliher and Kieffer due to him facing a less severe charge.
If convicted, Fisher will be sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.
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ORIGINAL STORY
The trial of three former Marcy Correctional Officers accused of murdering Robert Brooks has entered its 10th day on Monday.
The jury deliberated for two full days on Oct 16 and 17, failing to reach a verdict. Now, David Kingsley, Nicholas Kieffer, and Mathew Galliher will return to court and wait again to hear their fate.
The jury raised several questions to Judge Robert Bauer. They requested testimony from former Sergeant Glenn Tromley and Officer Kessler, to review bodycam footage and use-of-force documents and the elements of murder and manslaughter.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Jury fails to reach verdict again in Marcy inmate murder case, sending trial to Monday
Bodycam video revealed officers punching, kicking and grabbing Brooks by the neck on Dec. 9, 2024. The beating occurred the same day Brooks, of Rochester, was transferred from the Mohawk Correctional Facility to the Marcy facility. He died the next day at 43 years old.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for assault after he was convicted of stabbing his girlfriend in Greece, near Rochester.
His release was scheduled for 2026.
The jury reconvenes on Monday at 10 a.m. in Oneida County Court.
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